Kickball is making a comeback with adult leagues, fundraisers

Andrew Sollenberger of Stuart pitches for Jesse and the Rippers during a league game June 2 at Halpatiokee Regional Park in Stuart. The team is sponsored by The UPS Store on Kanner Highway in Stuart.

Staff file photo

KICKING AROUND

In Martin County, teams can kick 12 players and field 10. Teams must play five girls at all times.

A kicker gets four foul kicks, three strikes (a ball pitched through the kicking zone, but not kicked) and four balls.

Girls are allowed to bunt, boys are not.

A kicker is out when his ball is caught in the air, he is hit between the shoulders and the knee before reaching base, or the ball is thrown to the base ahead of the runner.

Games are six innings.

GROWING POPULARITY

According to the World Adult Kickball Association there are more than 4,000 teams in 40 states and in London. There is a soldier division in Iraq. WAKA teams have raised more than $200,000 for charities.

If you drive through Halpatiokee Park in Stuart on a Wednesday night, you'll see four ball diamonds packed with brightly clad players kicking the ball.

That's right. They're playing kickball.

The gym-class staple is one of the fastest-growing adult recreation sports around the country, being played from Halpatiokee to Central Park and even taking a place on the charity fundraiser circuit.

Golf and softball tournaments used to be the norm for charity sporting events, but kickball is becoming the game of choice for foundations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, which hosted the Kick It for Wishes kickball tournament Oct. 30 at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie.

"We are always looking for unique ways to fundraise, and quite frankly golf isn't that unique," said Richard Kelly, vice president and chief operations officer. "We looked at the landscape. We have a willing partner in Digital Domain and kickball is an up-and-coming sport with a slightly younger demographic, so we decided to be all-inclusive and run a kickball tournament."

Because kickball is a relatively inexpensive sport, organizers say it offers the chance to run a high-quality event while keeping expenses low. That in turn keeps the percentage per dollar donated high, which is the important part of the equation.

"Not to mention it's fun," Kelly said. "You can take any 10 players from any company and put them on the field to play kickball. This is something new and exciting and we are really looking forward to it."

Of the three Treasure Coast counties, only Martin County offers an adult kickball league, which is starting its fifth season. The league has had 23 teams for the past three seasons.

"I have to say, that kickball night at the park is like a breath of fresh air compared with some of the other nights," Assistant Athletic Director Larry Uber said. "Many of these teams are from local businesses or neighborhoods. There's a level of camaraderie in kickball that's not based on athletic ability. It's really kind of fun to watch."

Liz Slayne of Port St. Lucie, who plays for Team Animal, said kickball is a chance to relive childhood memories.

"I was awesome at kickball in grade school," Slayne said, "but as an adult it seems a little harder for some reason. It's a lot of fun, competitive but less serious than softball."